David Ryan

Partner
A no-nonsense lawyer who gives strategic, concise and highly commercial legal advice.
— Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2020
Sydney
About

David is a seasoned strategic adviser with vast experience in global and domestic M&A and equity capital market transactions, focusing in particular on complex takeovers and schemes of arrangement as well as IPOs, secondary capital raisings, restructurings and public company securities law and governance.

He is known in particular for his broad experience in the technology, energy and resources, industrials and financial services sectors, and is recognised as a leading M&A and capital markets practitioner in Australia, having acted on some of the most prominent transactions in the market.

With a wealth of experience, he is a go-to resource for clients needing expert advice in these domains.

David values teamwork above all. He sees collaboration as essential and is dedicated to growing and enhancing his team's skills and abilities.

Areas of FocusCorporateMergers and AcquisitionsEquity Capital Markets
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, 2001

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising Nearmap Ltd on its AU1.05B cash acquisition by Atlas AU BidCo Pty Ltd, a vehicle controlled by funds advised by Thoma Bravo L.P., via scheme of arrangement. The Federal Court of Australia approved the scheme of arrangement on 5 December 2022 and the scheme was implemented on 15 December 2022.
  • Advising Lionheart III Corp (Lionheart), a NASDAQ-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), on its US$360 million de-SPAC transaction with Australia-listed brand protection, supply chain integrity and blockchain technology company Security Matters Limited (SMX) to take SMX public on the NASDAQ Stock Market.
  • Advising award-winning $2.7 billion fund manager PM Capital in relation to its sale to Regal Partners Limited.
  • Advising Accel-KKR on its growth equity investment in geological SaaS business Seequent and on its subsequent exit by way of trade sale for NZD1.46 billion.
  • Advising Nord Gold SE on its on-market takeover bid (and simultaneous off-market takeover bid) for ASX and TSX-listed, and competitive auction for, Cardinal Resources Limited
  • Advising US tech company Life360 (ASX: 360) on its AUD820 million IPO and ASX listing – one of the largest tech debuts on the ASX ever in Australia – as well as its AUD280 million accelerated non-renounceable pro-rata entitlement offer and institutional placement to fund the acquisition of Tile, Inc.
  • Advising Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited (ASX: SOL) on its AUD225 million convertible notes offering.
  • Advising Nickel Mines Limited (ASX: NIC) on its AUD364 million, fully underwritten accelerated pro-rata non-renounceable entitlement offer; and on its AUD231 million, fully underwritten 1 for 3.6 accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer.
  • Advising Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) on its AUD346 million equity raising; and on its EUR100 million (approximately AUD163 million) convertible notes offering.
  • Advising ASX-listed US fintech company Credible Labs Inc. (ASX: CRD) on its AUD585 million merger with NASDAQ listed Fox Corporation.

Awards

  • Transaction Team of the Year finalist at the 2023 Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards
  • Awarded the Australian Dealmaker of the Year Excellence Award at the 2020 Australasian Law Awards
  • Best Lawyers ranked for Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Corporate Law and Corporate / Governance Practice, 2014–2021
  • Legal500 Asia-Pacific recognises David as a Recommended Practitioner for Capital Markets, 2022
  • Legal500 Asia-Pacific recognises David as a Recommended Practitioner for Corporate M&A, 2021
  • Chambers Asia-Pacific lists David as a Leading Lawyer for Corporate/M&A, 2015 – 2023
  • Chambers Asia-Pacific lists David as Notable Practitioner for Capital Markets: Equity, 2020 – 2023
  • Chambers Asia-Pacific lists David as Notable Practitioner for Capital Markets: Equity, 2020 – 2023
Education

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Law Society of New South Wales

My latest insights

News

DLA Piper advises Prophecy on its merger with AI software developer Complexica

20 August 2025 .1 minute read

News

DLA Piper advises Demyst on sale to fraud detection fintech unicorn Feedzai

31 July 2025 .2 minute read

News
bright

DLA Piper advises Life360 on USD320 million upsized convertible note offering

16 July 2025 .2 minute read

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Phone

+61 2 9286 8232
(Work, Sydney)
+61 412 042 328
(Mobile)